He writes that, despite appearing relaxed, "inside he must have surely been as amazed as the rest of us by the turn of events since the start of the new season." Don`t worry, he was - being sadly fixated by the whole affair, I`ve checked. Lambert called the chain of events a "whirlwind" at his unveiling.

Fletcher, bless his football-shaped heart, says he "couldn`t help feeling sorry" for the fired Bryan Gunn after reviewing the 7-1 hiding Colchester dished-out just under a fortnight ago.

You know, that match which opened a vacuous hole of hysterical melodrama when things came to a head on Tuesday morning: "I watched the rather lengthy highlights on the BBC, goal after goal evaporating the optimism built during a largely successful pre-season."

Want a coarser quote? Reaction on network sister site, Vital Norwich, today said Gunn wore the look of a man stung "battery acid mouthwash." Someone had better tell City that Paul Lambert`s often caustic nature sometimes made Colchester fans think he worked in his own very toxic tracksuit...

Fletcher essentially makes the same point Vital Colchester argued - with added soundbites yesterday - noting: "David McNally apparently had no qualms about taking swift and decisive action so early in the season. The thing is, though, McNally arrived on 12 June - why not before the season started?"

Had McNally acted quicker, it would have allowed me to dish-out half-backed puns about the club's fans standing by their man(anager) instead of having to avoid, until now, the cheapest shot available: 'Lambert to the slaughter!`

But while we are here being sour, today`s prize-idiot award goes to the malcontent poster online at the town`s Daily Gazette webpage, who thought it less than a coincidental 'conspiracy' that Grant Holt and the man previously chasing his signature eventually ended up at the same club.

Anyone else want to hit them with a brink? Ok, too harsh. A much-softer bundle of newspapers, carrying headlines that show City`s interest in the player actually pre-dated Colchester`s, would suffice.

Next, Carl Marston shares his thoughts on a turbulent time for Colchester from the depressingly-familiar angle that three of the club`s most renowned managers in fifteen years - George Burley, Phil Parkinson and now Lambert - all resigned to take on other jobs.

On the bright side, the U's have eventually been better-off for it on the previous two occasions. "Fans must be getting fed up of being walked-all-over by other clubs, with a bigger income and a bigger fan-base, bull-dozing in to steal their manager." He`s right - we are; but if the compensation is any good, I'm sure everyone will cope!

Finally, BBC Essex Sport producer, Glenn Speller publishes a piece, stating, "on reflection... it does now all make sense.

"What we have to understand about Paul Lambert is, he is a man in a hurry."

This is Speller`s well-thought-out thesis on the Lemming-like leap from the Colchester at the top League One - that Lambert doesn't mind who he treads on in the process of achieving his aims.

As if this storm-in-a-teacup needed additional stirring, Speller adds: "Norwich like to portray themselves as a caring, sharing family club - their behaviour in this affair does not exactly give credence to that image and maybe the inability to agree compensation is merely the tip of the iceberg."

Ouch! Can things possibly get any more controversial than that?

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Comments

Very interesting, actaully; there's a lot remaining to be sorted in the Lambert saga, even if it is all clear now. City were in the wrong but decided to get thier man and he was taken by the offer. No loyalty shown to CUFC at all, and even if it is just a job to him, in any other walk of life you do have to give notice to leave!